Blotting out the “memory” of a formidable foe?

It’s interesting to see how monuments are refined or “tweaked,” after they have already been erected. As an example, take a look at this… (these images are from this page of The Historic Markers Database (HMDB)

I know it’s hard to read the tablet, but pay close attention to the last line. “HERE ON SUNDAY APRIL 9, 1865, AFTER FOUR YEARS OF HEROIC STRUGGLE IN DEFENSE OF PRINCIPLES BELIEVED FUNDAMENTAL TO THE EXISTENCE OF OUR GOVERNMENT, LEE SURRENDERED 9000 MEN, THE REMNANT OF AN ARMY STILL UNCONQUERED IN SPIRIT.”

Clearly, a positive representation of the memory of the Lost Cause is preserved in this marker.

Now that you’ve seen this, consider the records of the Battlefield Markers Association, Western Division. It seems that when this marker was placed (ca. 1929), the tablet’s story did not end with “UNCONQUERED IN SPIRIT.” Take a look at this…

So, where did “TO 118,000 MEN UNDER GRANT” go?

Of course, you have to keep in mind that (according to the information on this page at the HMDB) the Battlefield Markers Association, Western Division was organized in Charlottesville in 1925 with the intent of purchasing bronze tablets with “appropriate historic inscriptions.” Furthermore, these were placed on the bases erected by the Daughters of the Confederacy, D. A. R., and Memorial Association on the principal battlefields of Virginia. In all, they placed 25 markers. Oh, and if you’ve actually seen the booklet produced by the Battlefield Markers Association, Western Division in 1929, you have probably noted the tribute to Lee and Jackson in the back.

I doubt that the ghost of Jubal Early cleaned up that last line to erase all traces of the “Yankee horde,” and I don’t think that the few raised letters would bring much during the World War II scrap drive. It just looks like somebody had objections to the mention of Grant and his 118,000 men… and somebody, in the name of preserving the purity of this marker in the name of the Lost Cause, blotted out the “memory” of the side to whom surrender was made. For some reason, I can hear somebody say, after seeing the marker “cleaned-up” …. “There now, that looks so much better!”

I’m no metal worker, but know some about “field modifications” (as we liked to call them in the Army). In this case the letters do not appear to have been done by way of hammer and chisle, but rather by some rather deliberate sanding or machining. Bronze will always leave a ghost behind of the original casting that can often be seen even after polishing. For example, see one of many “false Napoleons” created by modifying old 6-pdrs at Gettysburg.

Appomattox was named a historic site in 1930, but wasn’t made a national park until 1954. I’d be curious as to what the park would have to say about this.

Forgot to mention, credit where it is due, Bernard Fisher, who recently added many of the Battlefield Association markers to HMDB posted much of the content for the entry. However the entry itself, and the main photo was posted by Bill Coughlin about a year ago. Bill is a very frequent contributor to HMDB.

Craig, I have to say that the volunteer work you have with HMDB with all of the contributors is amazing. It really makes the project dynamic and far-reaching. Of course, the packaging of all of the stuff that you guys do on the Web is also amazing. I can’t imagine the backlog of stuff you guys must have, considering the number of “contributions” that must be coming from just about everywhere.

Actually Robert, I try to keep the Civil War submission queues very low. Typically within a day the entry is posted. With time, I’ve developed a quick checklist for the administrative data (location, street, zip codes, etc.) . There are some that get held for a few days, as I don’t like to push an entry without at least good location data. Others I prefer to get the verification of text or the formatting right.

The hard part is meshing the marker with any additional background information. Generally I run the rule “do I know it?” and look for some quick web links. The intent is those who don’t know anything about the marker’s topic can go quickly to follow on resources. Where the answer is “no I don’t” then the pressure is on me to do the research. Unfortunately there are many bits of localized Civil War history for which the documentation is not web-accessible.

Now my own personal queue for submissions, that is another story. I average about 4 markers a day, and at that pace I should be finished with Gettysburg sometime around 2015….